Oil pan fitting



March 5, 1940. DELL 2,192,543

OIL PAN FITTING Filed Oct. 20, 1338 M1295- JDEZZ.

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to an oil pan fitting and more especially to a combination drain plug, breather tube, oil filler and gauge rod for oil pans of automobile engines.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a fitting of this character, wherein oil within an oil pan of an automobile engine can be readily and easily drained without the necessity of a persons crawling beneath the automobile for the removal of the drain plug of the oil pan in that it is only required that the hood be raised and the fitting withdrawn, which allows the oil within the pan to be drained therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provi sion of a fitting of this character, wherein fresh oil can be readily and easily introduced into the oil pan and such oil entering the pan will be screened so as to avoid any possibility of the entrance therewith of foreign matter, in this way assuring clean oil supplied to the pan.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fitting of this character, wherein the same operates as a breather tube, and facilitates drainage of the oil pan without removing the drain plug. Said fitting is applied in such manner as to avoid the stripping or breaking of the threads at the point of its attachment to the pan.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fitting of this character, wherein the gauge rod or stick is conveniently held so that a person can readily determine the oil pan content of an engine, the fitting being of novel construction and susceptible of arrangement at either side of the engine or motor, being readily accessible upon the lifting of the hood of the motor vehicle and also eliminating leakage of oil from the pan on the installing of said fitting therewith.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fitting of this character, wherein its construction eliminates the necessity of drilling the usual drain hole or opening in the engine block for the admission of oil to its oil pan as such pan can be filled through the fitting and the draining of oil with dispatch from the said pan assured.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fitting of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and.

eflicient in operation, readily and easily handled, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal view through an oil pan of an internal combustion engine showing its construction and the application of the fitting constituting the present invention and constructed in accordance therewith.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation with the fitting removed.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the fitting removed from the pan.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the filter or screening shell of the fitting.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the gauge rod or striker used with the fitting.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a portion of an oil pan of an internal combustion engine. In this instance such pan has at one end thereof or at one side integrally formed therewith a tubular well Iii, being angled to the horizontal plane of the bottom of the pan A. At the lower end of this well centrally thereof is a threaded opening I I providing a drain outlet so that oil within the pan can be discharged therefrom.

The upper end of the well I!) is open and is externally reinforced by an annular collar I2 united with this end and the latter carries a set screw I3 for a purpose presently described. The body of the well I0 is formed with a suitable clearance for the set screw I3 so that it can be worked into said well as and for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

Fitting within the well It is a tubular body I4 formed with a bottom I5 provided with an externally threaded circular lug I6 for separable engagement in the opening I I in the bottom of the Well It so that the tubular body M can be held fast within the well II]. This body is extended and has an open upper end for accommodating a circular breather cap IT. The tubular body M is formed with an external shoulder or bead I8 which is entirely about the said body for constituting a stop shoulder against which is seated a gasket or washer It. This washer is also seated upon the ring I2 when the tubular body I4 is telescopically fitted Within the well ill while the set screw engages with this tubular body M locking it fitted Within said well. The lug I'd is formed with a central drain port closed. by a removable screw plug 2|, which, when removed, will allow sediment or other foreign matter within the tubular body M to discharge therefrom.

The body M longitudinally thereof is provided with elongated slots 22 establishing communication between the pan A and the interior of said tubular body It so that oil will flow from the latter into the said pan A. Within this body is a tubular perforated shell forming a filter or screen 23 overlying the slots 22 in the tubular body It so that oil will be screened when passing from the tubular body 54 into the pan A, thereby avoiding foreign matter flowing with the oil into the said pan as oftentimes a nut, screw, washer or the like accidentally falls into the oil when being supplied to the engine or motor.

The breathing cap, which is slotted at 24, fits a canopy piece 25, having a central tubular portion 26 for a gauge stick or rod 21. The stick or rod has a finger hold 28 and by the use of this stick or rod 2? the amount of oil contained within the pan A can be measured. The level of the oil within this body It is the same as the level thereof in the pan A.

The breather cap I 7 has at diametrically opposite points stop pins 29, for contact with the tubular body It at its outer open end for limiting the insertion of the cap in the tubular body M.

When the tubular body It is detached from the we'l lil, oil within the pan can discharge through the opening I l. The tubular body M when in the well it functions as a breather tube for the pan and also carries and supports the gauge stick or rod 22'. This gauge stick or rod 2'! is readily removable from the tubular body l4 so that the oil within the pan can be measured as to its quantity.

The rod or stick 2? has thereon a graduated scale 30 for measuring purposes, this being conventional.

The shoulder I8 is preferably flat faced,-as at 3i, for the engagement of a wrench or other turning tool therewith so that the said fitting can be fastened in or unfastened from the Well in a convenient manner. It is also desirable to have external flat faced portions 32 formed on the tube It above the shoulder 3 for the engagement of a wrench therewith at such faces 32 in event that the faces 31 on the shoulder 18 can not be reached by a wrench or other tool for the purposes stated.

The gasket or washer 59 between the shoulder l8 and the annular collar 12 is for the purpose of preventing leakage therebetween when the tube H! is fastened in the well [0.

The plug 2| fitting the drain port 20 is for emergency in event that the lug or nipple I 6 is accidentally broken off in the opening II in the bottom of the well Ill so that on removal of the plug 2! the oil can be drained from the pan.

It is desirable to have the nipple or lug 2| surrounded by a lead washer 33 so that a leakproof joint is assured between this lug l6 when threaded in the opening and the bottom of the well ill thereby eliminating oil leakage at such locality.

What is claimed is:

1. A fitting for an engine oil pan provided with a well open at its top and having a threaded aperture leading through the bottom thereof, comprising a tubular body removably insertable into the well through the open top thereof and formed at its bottom with an externally threaded centrally apertured lug engageable in the threaded aperture in the bottom of said well, an exteri nal annular reinforcement flange about the open top of said well, an external annular shoulder formed on the tubular body for disposition in close relation to the external reinforcement flange when the lug is engaged in the perforation in the bottom of said well, a gasket interposed between the flange and shoulder, the said tubular body being formed with slots in its side wall for establishing communication between said well and said body, and a plug removably fitted in said lug.

2. A fitting for an engine oil pan provided with a well open at its top and having a threaded aperture leading through the bottom thereof, comprising a tubular body removably insertable into the well through the open top thereof and formed at its bottom with an externally threaded centrally apertured lug engageable in the threaded aperture in the bottom of said well, an external annular reinforcement flange about the open top of said well, an external annular shoulder formed on the tubular body for disposition in close relation to the external reinforcement flange when the lug is engaged in the perforation in the bottom of said well, a gasket interposed between the flange and shoulder, the said tubular body being formed with slots in its side wall for establishing communication between said well and said body, a plug removably fitted in said lug, and means fitted with the flange for engaging the tubular body to hold the same separably interfitted with the said well.

MILES J. DELL. 

